Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 15 The Emperor Lets Himself Go

"Is it an imperial decree?" Emperor Wanli's lips trembled and his voice shook slightly.

A trace of fear flashed across the fat little face.

The imperial edict was the emperor's privilege. When there were certain matters that he could not reach a consensus with the cabinet, the emperor could directly issue the imperial edict without going through the cabinet.

However, in order to show respect to the ministers, the emperor rarely issued an imperial edict. Throughout the reign of Emperor Wanli, he was the emperor for ten years and never issued a single imperial edict.

If Zhang Yunxiu hadn't mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten that the emperor had this privilege.

Although Wanli was tempted, he was frightened when he thought of Zhang Juzheng's stern face. He shook his head and said, "It's just a small matter, so there's no need to issue an imperial decree."

Seeing that the emperor was cowering and hiding his thoughts, Zhang Yunxiu shook his head secretly and continued to instigate, "Your Majesty, rest assured. You are the emperor. Your will is the imperial decree. How dare a minister control the emperor?"

"No," Wanli waved his hand to interrupt Zhang Yunxiu, and said sternly, "Mr. Zhang told me that if the emperor does something wrong, the ministers will write to the emperor to hold him accountable, and the historians of later generations will also record it.

At that time, Hai Rui carried a coffin and came to the Huangji Gate, and scolded my grandfather, Emperor Jiajing. "

"My mother asked me to be diligent in government and close to ministers, and not to learn from Emperor Jiajing."

Diligent in work?

Zhang Yunxiu almost laughed out loud, but when he saw the emperor's serious look, he held back and changed the subject: "When I was young, my father was very strict with me. I had to get up at 1:00 a.m. every morning and not go to bed until 1:00 p.m. every morning.

I was tired of studying boring articles every day. One day, I ran out while my father was away and had fun all day. When I came back, my father caught me.

Zhang Yunxiu paused briefly at this point.

Emperor Wanli felt the same way and urged Zhang Yunxiu to continue: "And then?"

"Then I was pressed down on a stool by my father and severely beaten."

"Ah?" Wanli screamed, and the image of Zhang Juzheng with an angry face whipping Zhang Yunxiu with a bamboo whip emerged in his mind.

"However, I also got a benefit." Zhang Yunxiu smiled.

"What's the benefit?"

"I am no longer afraid of my father. He can beat me and I will play my own games." Zhang Yunxiu said with a bit of pride, "At most, I will just give him a beating, that's all."

The worst that can happen is a beating?

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu's fearless look, Emperor Wanli couldn't help laughing and said, "Mr. Zhang must be very angry, right?"

"He can be angry, and we can do our own things." Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, as long as you issue this imperial decree, 100,000 silver taels will be deposited into your treasury immediately. Who will dare to spank you afterwards?"

Emperor Wanli suddenly understood and said through gritted teeth: "Okay, I want two hundred thousand taels of silver."

"No." Zhang Yunxiu was shocked.

"Why?"

"It's too much." Zhang Yunxiu explained, "One hundred thousand taels is like me going out for fun, my father can still accept it, but if it's two hundred thousand, my father will have to kill me."

As for why it is 100,000? Well, there is a reason for it.

Five days ago, after Li Youzi learned that he could enter the palace, he immediately came to discuss with him.

It was said that the emperor wanted 200,000 silver coins, but my father was only willing to give 30,000 taels, less than half of that.

If this were to be reported to the emperor, the emperor would be greatly offended.

That silver is not ours, why are you holding it? Just let the emperor do whatever he wants.

Zhang Yunxiu was so angry that he almost turned his back. After thinking for a moment, he asked Li Youzi, "Uncle, if the emperor issues an imperial decree, will you be willing to send the silver to the treasury?"

"And it has to be quick. Once the imperial edict arrives, the silver and money will be delivered immediately."

Li Youzi's eyelids jumped in shock, and he replied, "The emperor has issued an imperial decree, which will deal a huge blow to your father's authority as the Prime Minister. When the time comes, all kinds of monsters and demons will emerge."

Zhang Yunxiu naturally knew that this imperial edict was a blow to the Prime Minister.

But rather than letting Zhang Juzheng be purged after his death, it would be better to suppress Zhang Juzheng's arrogance while the emperor is still in power.

As long as the emperor had vented his anger, he still had some feelings of teacher-student relationship with Zhang Juzheng.

After figuring this out, Zhang Yunxiu immediately replied: "Uncle, don't worry. I know the dangers involved, but the Prime Minister is also a minister and is under the control of Your Majesty. Only if the Emperor cares about our family can our family remain rich and prosperous." "That's right." Li Youzi was also a veteran in officialdom and knew that Zhang Juzheng's situation was not easy.

He offended all of them, including the scholars, the nobles, the wealthy and powerful families, and the royal family.

It's like a huge furnace. It will explode immediately with just a little spark.

When he was alive, perhaps no one dared to act rashly.

But he died?
Without the emperor's support, not only the Zhang family, but even he would be in trouble.

Since ancient times, how many of those who have carried out reforms have had a good ending?
Look at Shang Yang, how glorious he was when he was in power, and how miserable he was when he lost power.

The two hit it off immediately. As long as the emperor gave the order, he would allocate the money, and then Li Youzi would go to inspect the customs to avoid the limelight.

Zhang Juzheng saw that the matter was irreversible and had no choice but to accept it.

As for the amount, in order to make it acceptable to both parties, it was settled on 100,000 taels.

When the emperor heard the 100,000 taels, he was dissatisfied at first, but then he remembered that he had already allocated 30,000 taels before, which added up to 130,000 taels.

His mood suddenly improved, so he clapped his hands and shouted, "Okay, one hundred thousand taels. I will immediately draft an imperial decree for Li Youzi."

After saying this, he walked to the desk and wrote down an imperial edict in a swift and graceful manner.

After a while, he called a trusted eunuch, handed him the imperial edict, and ordered: "Take a few more people with you to transport my silver to the treasury."

The eunuch received the order and left.

Emperor Wanli laughed and turned his gaze to Zhang Yunxiu again.

Somehow, although he had only met Zhang Yunxiu once, he felt like they were old friends.

He thought about Zhang Yunxiu's words, "He can punish himself, and we play our own games," and he was deeply touched. After all, he had already taken the lead once.

Might as well just have fun.

Wanli was so angry that he shouted at Zhang Yunxiu, "Zhang Yunxiu, do you dare to take me out of the palace?"

"Ah?" Zhang Yunxiu and Wei Qing were both stunned.

Before Zhang Yunxiu could answer, Wei Qing knelt down on the ground and cried, "Oh, Your Majesty, please spare me. If you leave, the Queen Mother will kill me."

When Wanli heard Wei Qing mention Empress Dowager Li, he couldn't help but shudder.

"Why not? As long as Your Majesty wants to go, I will take you there."

As soon as Zhang Yunxiu finished speaking, Wanli smiled and clapped his hands, saying, "Great, Zhang Yunxiu, you are a great loyal minister."

"But, if the Queen Mother and Mr. Zhang ask, I, huh?"

"Your Majesty cares about the people and has left the palace to see how they are doing. If anything goes wrong, Your Majesty can just blame me. I will take the blame."

"What do you mean by push?" Wanli frowned and scolded, "Could it be that in your eyes, I am an irresponsible emperor?"

Damn it, she is a whore and still wants to be a virtuous woman.

Zhang Yunxiu complained in his heart, bowed repeatedly and replied, "I just made a mistake in my words, I just made a mistake in my words."

Wanli then smiled complacently, turned his head to look at the trembling Wei Qing, and asked: "You stay here for me, if anyone comes in, tell them that we are resting inside, and do not disturb us."

"understand?"

"emperor!"

"Don't cry, wait for me to come back and give you a reward." Wanli frowned and shouted, "If I know that you dare to play tricks, I will immediately send you to guard the imperial mausoleum."

Wei Qing's face was full of grievance. He didn't know whether to stop it or not.

While he was thinking, Emperor Wanli yelled at him to hurry up. Zhang Yunxiu did not dare to be careless and comforted him, "Let me go out and prepare first. Your Majesty will leave the city later and join the team leaving the palace."

"Okay, then hurry up."

(End of this chapter)